After four years and a million units have passed, the Volkswagen T-Roc goes through the mid-career restyling box. High-tech headlights, level 2 autonomous driving and more qualitative materials on board are on the program. Enough to stay the course? Here is our opinion.
Placed at the heart of Volkswagen’s SUV offer, between the T-Cross, the Taigo and the Tiguan, the T-Roc, launched at the end of 2017, is reaching mid-career. The German brand has already sold more than a million in the world, 650,000 in Europe and 320,000 in China. It is also marketed in South Africa, Australia and Japan. Nice score for a new entrant in the very crowded compact SUV market. In order to continue this momentum, the Volkswagen T-Roc evolves by small touches and corrects some flaws of youth. Orders for the restyled T-Roc are just open, and the first deliveries will take place in April. 2022.
TO READ. Volkswagen Taigo (2022). On board the 1st urban SUV-coupé
Style: the T-Roc aims for the right balance?
No question of a major restyling like that of its big brother Tiguan, which gave him the right to redesigned headlights. Retaining the same outline for its optics, the VW T-Roc still adopts matrix LED technology with 24 light sources per headlight and an illuminated ID Light signature. As on the Golf 8 or the electric models in the range, the latter bars the grille and connects the headlights. But, unlike the Golf, where the light line arrives at the top at the edge of the hood, that of the restyled T-Roc is placed in the center of the grille on either side of the logo. It makes sense, the muzzle of the T-Roc is higher, so you have to adapt to the proportions so that the whole remains elegant. The headlamps also integrate the daytime running lights and scrolling indicators. They were previously implanted on the shield. This arrangement allows a more sporty treatment on the R-Line finishes. The Style livery, for its part, retains a pattern very similar to that of the T-Roc before restyling.
All variants of the Volkswagen T-Roc are affected by this makeover: the classic 5-door version, the sporty T-Roc R with 300 hp and the exclusive T-Roc Cabriolet, which is the only representative of the genre in the range since the stop of the Range Rover Evoque discoverable. At the rear, the lights adopt a darker texture, scrolling indicators (optional) and, as on many of the brand’s models, a clear switch between the tail light and brake light functions. This is a plus for security.
TO READ. Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet test: can it make you forget the Golf?
Large screen and foamed plastic
On board, the restyled Volkswagen T-Roc emphasizes digital from the entry level, with digital instrumentation appearing on an 8-inch panel (10.25 inches on the higher-end versions). For his part, the touch screen, which can reach 9.2 inches, is now superimposed on the dashboard like a living room shelf. At the same time, the central air vents were enlarged, while the technological panoply was enriched with the wireless We Connect Plus, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto services.
Often criticized for the poor quality of its materials, and in particular the rigidity of its plastics at the level of the dashboard, the T-Roc corrects the shooting using much more rewarding foamed elements. The storm doors adopt, depending on the level of finish, a fabric or imitation leather upholstery. An effort has been made, we must salute it, but the evolution remains very measured. On the other hand, the air conditioning interface has been completely redesigned and gives way to tactile sliders which purify the dashboard. But Volkswagen did not go looking for it very far. In principle, this is a technology released by the Golf 8 and ID.3. In detail, this is precisely the module that appeared on the restyled Volkswagen Polo. Finally, the steering wheel is redesigned and now benefits from fairly practical touchpads.
“The restyled Volkswagen T-Roc has semi-autonomous driving up to 210 km / h!“
The Volkswagen T-Roc takes advantage above all of its restyling to put itself on the page question of driving aids. The IQ Drive Travel device, ACC predictive cruise control and the extended functions of the Side Assist system give it functional level 2 semi-autonomous driving up to 210 km / h.
Gasoline, diesel, but not hybrid
The range of engines of the restyled Volkswagen T-Roc remains faithful to three petrol units: 1.0 TSI three-cylinder 110 hp, 1.5 TSI four-cylinder 150 hp and 2.0 TSI strong 190 hp. In diesel, the 2.0 TDI engine is available in versions of 115 and 150 hp. Finally, the turbulent Volkswagen T-Roc R remains animated by the 2.0 TSI of 300 hp with a torque value of 400 Nm and a 0 to 100 km / h speeded in 4.9 s. Nothing new under the hood therefore and still no hybrid or plug-in hybrid version on the program. This is reserved for the Tiguan eHybrid. The restyled T-Roc therefore leaves the field open to competition. The Renault Captur E-Tech, the Toyota Yaris Cross and C-HR like the Hyundai Kona rub their hands. On the other hand, the T-Roc offers the 4Motion all-wheel drive, rare equipment in the segment, which remains in place on the TDI 150, TSI 190 and T-Roc R variants of 300 hp.
Volkswagen is harmonizing its SUV range across Europe with four trim levels called T-Roc, Life, Style and R-Line. For more personalization, the Style and R-Line liveries can benefit from a Black Style pack characterized by dark-tinted side and rear windows to match the carbon-treated rear quarter pillars. Specific rims, also black lacquered, complete the whole.
Volkswagen T-Roc restyled review
In four years, the Volkswagen T-Roc has perfectly found its place in the Volkswagen catalog. With a format of 4.24 m, comparable to that of the Golf (4.28 m), it has become its alter ego in SUV mode. He even stole his convertible version! This mid-career restyling, which is nothing overwhelming, nevertheless ticks the right boxes, with the exception of that of hybridization which leaves the field open to competition. Is it crucial? The future will tell … In the meantime, the T-Roc still capitalizes on a desired positioning above the melee of urban SUVs, with its convertible and R variants with 300 hp and all-wheel drive. The brand has not yet revealed the amounts of the restyled Volkswagen T-Roc, but the call price will be € 28,000. As a reminder, before the cosmetic operation, prices started at € 27,260. Inflation is therefore contained.